Press Release - 06 February 2009 - One fourth of antelope species are threatened with extinction in the world MAIN OUTCOME OF THE RED LIST UPDATE The conservation status of species monitored by the Antelope Specialist Group (ASG/SSC/IUCN) has recently been updated as part of the 2008 Global Mammal Assessment. The ASG monitors 97 herbivore species of which 91 are antelopes. ANTELOPES • Out of the 91 species of antelopes existing in the world, 25 species are threatened with extinction. • Antelope species population trends (Figure 1): o The Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) is the only antelope species with a long-term increasing trend; o Populations are stable in 31% of the antelope species; o Populations are decreasing in 62 % of the antelope species. • Species Conservation Status (Figure 2): o Nearly 70% of the antelope species are classified as ‘Near Threatened’ or ‘Least Concern’, i.e. they are not threatened with extinction; o 9 species of antelopes are classified as ‘Vulnerable’; o 9 species of antelopes are classified as ‘Endangered’; o 5 species of antelopes are classified as ‘Critically Endangered’: Addax (Addax nasomaculatus); Hirola (Beatragus hunteri); Ader’s duiker (Cephalophus adersi); Dama gazelle (Nanger dama); Saiga (Saiga tatarica). o The Scimitar horned oryx (Oryx dammah) is already extinct in the wild. • Sub-species Conservation Status: The global situation is worse when considering the 49 sub-species of antelopes which have been assessed; within species of antelopes which have been classified as not threatened with extinction (‘Near threatened’ or ‘Least Concern’): o 10 sub-species are classified as ‘Vulnerable’; o 5 sub-species are classified as ‘Endangered’; o 5 sub-species are classified as ‘Critically Endangered’: Tora hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus ssp. tora); Giant sable antelope (Hippotragus niger ssp. variani); Upemba lechwe (Kobus leche ssp. anselli); Western giant eland (Tragelaphus derbianus ssp. derbianus); Mountain bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus ssp. isaaci). NON-ANTELOPES Only the Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii) is threatened with extinction (‘Endangered’) out the 6 non-antelope species monitored by the ASG; within the non-threatened species, only the west African giraffe sub-species (Giraffa camelopardalis ssp. peralta) is classified as ‘Endangered’. A complete taxonomic list is available in the Antelope Database. Population trends of Antelopes (N=87*) 5.7% 1.1% 31.0% Decreasing Stable Increasing Unknown 62.1% * Extinct species excluded ASG/SSC/IUCN - December 2008 Figure 1: Population trends of Antelope species Conservation Status of Antelopes (N=91) 3.3% 1.1% 5.5% 9.9% Extinct Extinct in the Wild Critically Endangered Endangered 9.9% Vulnerable Near Threatened 58.2% Data Deficient Least Concern 8.8% 3.3% ASG/SSC/IUCN - December 2008 Figure 2: Conservation Status of Antelope species SPECIES HIGHLIGHTS • Springbok Antidorcas marsupialis LC An antelope species on the increase Status justification: Listed as Least Concern as the species is widespread and one of the most abundant antelopes of the southern African region. There are no major threats to its long-term survival and the conservation status of the Springbok is unlikely to change as long as effective management is continued for the populations on private land and in protected areas. Conservation actions: Springbok are well represented in protected areas throughout their range, ©Pascal Mésochina including Etosha National Park and Namib-Naukluft Park (Namibia), Makgadikgadi-Nxai Pan National Park (Botswana), the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park between Botswana and South Africa, and Vaalbos and Karoo National Parks and a number of provincial reserves in South Africa. Springbok also are well present in private lands, where they are actively managed. In 1999, it has been estimated that about 60% of the total population occurred on private land and 12% in protected areas. Springbok are amongst the most valued species in the expanding game ranching industry in southern Africa due to the excellent quality of their venison. • Scimitar-horned oryx Oryx dammah EW This desert adapted species has disappeared from the wild Status justification: There has been no definite evidence of the survival of this species in the wild for more than 15 years. Sporadic reports of animals sighted in Niger and Chad have never been substantiated, despite extensive surveys dedicated to detection of Sahelo-Saharan antelopes carried out in Chad and Niger in 2001-2004. Conservation actions: The Scimitar-horned Oryx is listed on CMS Appendix 1. A global captive breeding programme was initiated in the 1960s. In 2005 there ©Fondation IGF/Guillaume Roques-Rogery were at least 1,550 captive animals held in managed breeding programmes around the world. In addition, a large number, probably >4,000 are kept in a private collection in the United Arab Emirates. Additional animals are likely held on private game ranches in the USA. As part of planned reintroduction projects, animals have been released into fenced protected areas in Tunisia (Bou Hedma National Park 1985, Sidi Toui National Park 1999, Oued Dekouk National Park 1999), Morocco (Souss-Massa National Park 1995), and Senegal (Ferlo Faunal Reserve 1998, Guembuel Wildlife Reserve 1999). Reintroduction is currently also planned at a site in Niger. • Addax Addax nasomaculatus CR The Saharan bovid species at highest risk of extinction in the near future Status justification: Listed as Critically Endangered as the species is believed to have undergone a decline well exceeding 80% over the past three generations (21 years). The total population is estimated at less than 300 individuals across the range, with the majority of the population in the Termit/Tin Toumma region of Niger. The population continues to decline due to ongoing threats of hunting and habitat loss. Conservation actions: Listed on CMS Appendix I, and included in the CMS Sahelo-Saharan Antelopes Action Plan. It is protected under national legislation in ©Fondation IGF/Philippe Chardonnet Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria; in Libya and Egypt hunting of all gazelles is forbidden by law. Although massive reserves, such as the Ahaggar and Tasilli in Algeria, the Aïr/Ténéré in Niger, the Ouadi Rimé-Ouadi Achim in Chad, and the newly established Wadi Howar N.P. in Sudan cover areas where Addax previously occurred, some are under-resourced and all no longer harbour Addax. Continued support for gazetted reserves in Chad and Niger, together with the establishment of new protected areas, especially along the Mali/Mauritania frontier (Majabat), Niger (Termit/Tin Toumma) and Chad (Bodélé, Egueï), is essential, but must be supported and combined with programmes to create incentives for the local people to protect wildlife wherever it is found. Addax have been reintroduced to fenced sectors of protected areas in Tunisia (Bou Hedma NP) and Morocco (Souss-Massa: 70 animals released 1994-97, increased to c. 550 by 2007). The first reintroduction in the wild is underway in Jebil National Park, Tunisia, in the Great Eastern Erg and another is planned in southern Morocco. There are over 600 Addax in Europe, Libya (Sabratha), Egypt (Giza Zoo), North America, Japan and Australia in managed breeding programmes, and at least 1,000 more individuals are held in private collections and ranches in the United States and the Middle East. • Hirola Beatragus hunteri CR One of the most highly threatened antelopes in Africa Status justification: Given a conservative estimate of generation time at nine years, the 85 to 90% decline (and continuing) since 1980 has occurred over three generations and meets the threshold for Critically Endangered under criterion A2, and on the basis of direct observation, decline in area of occupancy and habitat quality and levels of exploitation. Conservation actions: This is one of the most highly threatened antelopes in Africa. Recommendations for the long-term conservation of the Hirola in Kenya have been included in a conservation action plan and a ©Tim Wacher conservation evaluation report. These recommendations are now part of the current conservation and management plan for the Hirola in Kenya and are being acted upon by the Kenya Wildlife Service, in conjunction with the Hirola Management Committee and local conservation NGOs. There is an urgent need to improve the level of management and protection of the one natural population of Hirola, particularly in the Arawale National Reserve and in the Galma Galla/Kolbio region of Kenya. Community conservation and anti- poaching activities must be established over a large portion of the remaining range, but insecurity for conservation workers is an extremely serious problem in this region. Consideration should be given to establishing protected areas at Galma Galla and Lag Dere, and to expanding the Tana Primate National Reserve to the east to include at least 300 km² of prime habitat for Hirola. There are only two Hirola in captivity. • Ader’s duiker Cephalophus adersi CR The most highly threatened duiker in the world Status justification: Listed as Critically Endangered as there has been an observed decline on Zanzibar from 5,000 individuals (1983), to 2,000 (1996) to 640 (1999). There are no recent population estimates, but on the basis that the known reasons for the decline are still occurring (i.e., a continued decline in the area and quality of habitat due to illegal wood-cutting, and the continuation of illegal hunting), it is suspected that the population will continue to decline at a similar rate. ©Tom Struhsaker Conservation actions: In Zanzibar, the revised version of the Aders’ Duiker Species Recovery Plan (SRP) constitutes a framework for conservation of the species. In Kenya, a conservation and recovery plan has been proposed in 2002. Aders’ Duiker has been protected under Zanzibar law since 1919, while in Kenya Aders’ Duiker is a protected species. In Zanzibar, the newly designated Jozani-Chakwa Bay National Park has secured part of the Aders’ Duiker range within a strictly protected area. Another important subpopulation in Kiwengwa Forest is now protected as a nature reserve.